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Logically； there can be nothing uglier than a Spanish…American dwelling of this type。 But； as a matter of fact； they appear seductively beautiful。 The thick white walls acquire a certain softness of tone； the surface scales off here and there； and cracks and crevices appear。 In a damp country； like England； they would soon become covered with moss； but moss is not to be had in this region； though one were to offer for it the price of the silk velvet； triple ply； which so much resembles it。 Nevertheless； there are compensations。 The soil is inexhaustibly fertile； and its fertility expresses itself in the most inveterate beauty。 Such colors and varieties of flowers exist nowhere else； and they continue all the year round。 Climbing vines storm the walls； and toss their green ladders all over it； for beauty to walk up and down。 Huge jars； standing on the verandas； emit volcanoes of lovely blossoms； and vases swung from the roof drip and overflow with others； as if water had turned to flowers。 In the garden； which extends over several acres at the front of the house； and； as it were； makes it an island in a gorgeous sea of petals； there are roses； almonds； oranges； vines； pomegranates； and a hundred rivals whose names are unknown to the present historian； marching joyfully and triumphantly through the seasons； as the symphony moves through changes along its central theme。
Everything that is not an animal or a mineral seems to be a flower。 There are too many flowers；or； rather； there is not enough of anything else。 The faculty of appreciation wearies； and at last ceases to take note。 It is like conversing with a person whose every word is an epigram。 The senses have their limitations； and imagination and expectation are half of beauty and delight； and the better half； otherwise we should have no souls。 A single violet； discovered by chance in the by…ways of an April forest in New England； gives a pleasure as poignant as； and more spiritual than； the miles upon miles of Californian splendors。
Monotony is the ruling characteristic； monotony of beauty； monotony of desolation； monotony even of variety。 The glorious blue overhead is monotonous： as for the thermometer； it paces up and down within the narrowest limits； like a prisoner in his cell； or a meadow…lark hopping to and fro in a seven…inch cage。 The plan and aspect of the buildings are monotonous； and so is the way of life of those who inhabit them。 Fortunately； the sun does rise and set in Southern California： otherwise life there would be at an absolute stand…still； with no past and no future。 But； as it is； one can look forward to morning； and remember the evening。
Then； there are the not infrequent but seldom very destructive earthquakes； the occasional cloud…bursts and tornadoes； sudden and violent as a gunpowder…explosion； and； finally； the astounding contrast between the fertile regions and the desert。 There are places where you can stand with one foot planted in everlasting sterility and the other in immortal verdure。 In the midst of an arid and hopeless waste； you come suddenly upon the brink of a narrow ravine； sharply defined as if cut out with an axe； and packed to the brim with enchanting and voluptuous fertility。 Or you will come upon mountains which sweep upward out of burning death into sumptuous life。 When the monotony of life meets the monotony of death； Southern California becomes a land of contrasts； and the contrasts themselves become monotonous。
General Trednoke's ranch was very near the borders of these two mighty forces。 An hour's easy ride would carry him to a region as barren and apparently as irreclaimable as that through which Childe Roland journeyed in quest of the Dark Tower； lying； too； in a temperature so fiery that it coagulated the blood in the veins； and stopped the beating of the heart。 Underfoot were fine dust； and whitened bones； the air was prismatic and magical； ever conjuring up phantom pictures； whose characteristic was that they were at the farthest remove from any possible reality。 The azure sky descended and became a lake； the pulsations of the atmosphere translated themselves into the rhythmic lapse of waves； spikes of sage… brush and blades of cactus became sylvan glades； and hamlets cheerful with inhabitants。 Only； all was silent； and as you drew near； the scene trembled； altered； and was gone！
Hideous black lizards and horned toads crawl and hop amid this desolation； and the deadly little sidewinder rattlesnake lies basking in the blaze of sunshine； which it distils into venom。 Sometimes the level plain is broken up into savage ridges and awful canons； along whose arid bottoms no water streams。 As you stagger through their chaotic bottoms； you see vast boulders poised overhead； tottering to a fall； a shiver of earthquake； a breath of hurricane； and they come crashing and splintering in destruction down。 Along the sides of these acclivities extend long； level lines and furrows； marks of where the ocean flowed ages ago。 But sometimes the hills are but accumulations of desert dust； which shift slowly from place to place under the action of the wind； melting away here to be re…erected yonder； mounding themselves； perhaps； above a living and struggling human being； to move forward； anon； leaving where he was a little heap of withered bones。 A fearful place is this broad abyss； where once murmured the waters of a prehistoric sea。 Let us return to the cool and fragrant security of the general's ranch。
At right angles to the main body of the house extend two wings； thus forming three sides of a square； the interior of which is the court…yard。 Here the business of the establishment is conducted。 It is the liveliest spot on the premises； though it is liveliness of a very indolent sort。 The veranda built around these sides is twenty feet in breadth； paved with tiles that have been worn into hollows by innumerable lazy footsteps； mostly shoeless； for this side of the house is frequented chiefly by the servants of the place； who are Mexican Indians。 Ancient wooden settles are bolted to the walls； from hooks hang Indian baskets of bright colors； in one corner are stretched raw hides； which serve as beds。 Small brown children； half naked； trot； clamber； and crawl about。 Black…haired； swarthy women squat on the tiled floor； pursuing their vocations； or； often； doing nothing at all beyond continuing a placid organic existence。 Boys and men saunter in and out of the court…yard； chatting or calling in their musical patois； once in a while there is a thud and clatter of hoofs； a rider arriving or departing。 It is an entertaining scene； charming in its monotony of small changes and evolutions； you can sit watching it in a half…doze for twenty years at a stretch； and it may seem only as many minutes； or vice versa。
Most of the rooms in the wings are used for the kitchens and other servants' quarters； but one large chamber is devoted to a special purpose of the general's own： it is a museum； the Curiosity…Room； he calls it。 It is lighted by two windows opening on opposite sides； one on the court…yard； the other on an orange grove at the south end of the house。 Besides being； in itself； a cool an